What to watch for:

Size:

Appearance:

Photo: NOAA

A rounded body with a spotted coat ranging from silver-gray to black or dark brown. They lack external ear flaps and have fan-shaped flippers.

Where to watch:

They spend their time in coastal oceanic waters and can be found basking on sand bars, rocks, or remote beaches during low tide within estuaries, bays, and rivers. When resting in water, their heads bob at the surface resembling a floating bottle and thus is termed "bottling."

When to watch:

The best times to watch harbor seals in New York are during the day from early winter (November) and into spring (May).
When watching seals, stay back about 150 feet in order to prevent unnecessary stress and abandonment of their basking sites. Approaching seals can cause them to feel threatened and they may bite. If a seal appears injured and in need of help, keep your distance and report to the NYS Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Program at 631-369-9829.

More information about Harbor Seals:

Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Program (Offsite link, leaving DEC website)Seal Walks (Offsite link, leaving DEC website) - Go watch seals at their favorite haul out sites on an adventurous and educational seal walk with an expert from the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island.